Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-03-31

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low, with an honest American face. His
soldierJv bearing was that of veteran.
Although a mere youth he had been
trained in wars toughest school. At the
downfall of the contederacy he had made
his way across the Rio Grande, still wear
ing his faded gray jacket, and had Joined
Maximiian's army.
Corporal John wore his French uni
form gracefully, but the lingo of his com
| ratles was too much for him, and this
n..de him a little uneasy in the presence
of his captain
"Mv American friend" said Duval,
"you have fought bushwhackers?"
Yes, captain.'
And sharpshootersP"
"Yes, captain"
And brigands?"
Eyes. captain"
"And all sorts of devils, | doubt not.
Well. then, Corporal John, what did you
do with them when you caught them?'
"Clickr'
This significant sound, made bv Pc
culia working of the corporal's mouth,
arrested the Frenchman's attention.
Good" he calculated. You shot
them on the spo?'
I'VE led them out of the bushes" said
the corporal. land lost them. And
they were never found again. Clickn'
Very we'll" said Duval, with salts
fed look. "On the principle of setting n
thief to catch thief, propose to turn
these assassins over to you. Ga the
march. tomorrow, take few picked men
and watch every suspicious place 1t
YOU find any human being in ambush with
arms in his hands shoot him. Ii the case
calls for investigation. it will be looked
into later. Our first duty is self-preser-
vation."
at shall be DONE" replied Corporal
John as he retired.
1t was nearly shutdown the next day
when Corporal John and his men plunged
into dense and tangled thicket, little
off their line of march. The corporal
was sure that he had seen something run
to cover, and he found that he was not
mistaken.
But this prisoner, with his arm around
the neck Of his little mustang, was no
ordinary bushwhacker. When the two
soldiers seized him Corporal John saw be-
fore him boy of about Is, handsome,
spirited looking yOungster in citizen s dress
and armed with a light rifle. Trembling
and flushing by turns, the prisoner flashed
his black eyes detiantly, and cried out:
"Unhand me- seniors! | will not SUBJ
nit to this outrage"
lie spoke in Spanish, and the corporal
understood this language better than he
did French.
"Who are you, and what are you doing
here ?" he asked sternly.
The little Mexican drew himself up
hauehtily.
sit is no crime to hunt" he replied.
81 am not soldier. See. wear no uni
form. Why am | treated in this way
Restore my rifle and my mustang and let
me proceed on my way"
1t was wonderful sweet voice and it
had an imperious ring in it. Corporal
John wavered a moment, but one of the
men spoke up:
"A cursed brgand and caught with
arms in his hands in ambush. Remember
the captains orders"
Il will take him down to the river and
finish him myself" said the corporal,
grizzly. Il can't take you two from the
road at present. Keep your eyes OPEN
There was a protest from the others,
but the corporal silenced them.
Il won't have any useless noise" he
explained. "Ill take him to the river,
cut his throat and throw him in. Thai
will be the safest plan"
Tying the hands of the prisoner he led
him through the thick underground down
to the muddy stream, hundred yard:
from the road.
"Senor."
Corporal John looked down relentless
ly into the youthful face.
well" he answered gruffly.
"Senor,' this is brave deed for a
soldier TO murder an unarmed prisoner.
"You and your friends have been
numbering our men," replied the cor
poral, land we must get even and set ar
example"
"Senor, let me speak. Less than d
month ago band of your soldiers burned
our hacienda. They stabbed!my father. 8
harmless old man, with their bayonets
until he was dead. My mother fled to the
swamps, where she died of fright and ex-
posture. Well, ! will tell the truth. Since
then my brother and have been with the
guerrillas. and we have done some goot
work. Do you blame me?
mo, l DON'T" he blurted out; "but
don't know whether you are telling the
truth o. lie. must obey ORDERS
"But, senior, would you kill a woman
a girl !"
Good God !" cried the corporal. Then
when he glanced at the upturned face anG
saw the liquid eyes with their long lashes
5 the pouting, crimson lips, and the faintl,
# flushed, dark face, he wondered that b,
: had not suspected the truth before.
). "Senorta," stammered the rough sol
" dier, 81 am sorry that you are in thi
trouble. You may rest assured, however
that am not going to kill you.''
II knew it ~ and the girl smiled tri
umphantly.
e "But yo1 ought to be sent to headquar
: ters"
'And would my life be safe there?"
"No, | don't believe it would" was tn
corpora's thoughtful reply.
Then set me free !"
"HeyP"
'sSet me free -
Hang me if don't!" said the corpo
J, raj. "Why of course will"
He cut the prisoners bonds and CAV
an inOuirinO 1ook